Undersheriff Jack Campbell and retired sheriff’s Lt. Wes Barr addressed Campbell’s current position of undersheriff, a post to which he was appointed by current Sheriff Neil Williamson in 2012. Williamson, a Republican, has announced that this term will be his last.

Barr said if elected he wouldn’t have an undersheriff but instead would have a chief deputy. Campbell said that he would have only a chief deputy, too.

But Barr said that Campbell’s appointment to undersheriff was “done for political reasons” so Campbell could continue to work and receive salary while running for sheriff.

Campbell previously was chief deputy before receiving the new title, and said that title came with new responsibilities and an increased workload — responsibilities he will handle himself if elected.

Campbell said that the merit system that would prohibit his running while working for the sheriff’s department only applies “to people going through the testing system that are sergeants or lieutenants.” Anyone a captain or above could run while working just as he is doing, he said.

He said his duties as undersheriff include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the sheriff’s office, helping to negotiate contracts and working with the Sangamon County Board.

Barr said overseeing the day-to-day activities “won’t be dedicated to someone else” if he is elected.

Williamson, who was present at Monday’s State Journal-Register-sponsored forum, is backing Campbell in the March 18 primary.

Also present was retired Illinois State Police officer Jeff Regan, who is running unopposed as a write-in candidate in the Democrat primary for sheriff.

Taser training

Campbell said he believes the department’s current training program for Taser use goes beyond the national standards; Barr said it does not. Both agreed that Tasers can be an effective tool to reduce injuries to both officers and suspects.

Barr cited the number of lawsuits pending against the sheriff’s office and said it can do a better job training its officers. Campbell said filing lawsuits “is something inmates do all the time” and added that what is contained in such legal complaints isn’t necessarily true.

Both men said they favored transparency and would make public internal affairs records if the complaints were substantiated and the discipline already imposed.

Barr said he would hire an additional person to handle Freedom of Information Act requests for the sheriff’s office. Campbell said the department has had an assistant state’s attorney assigned to handle all its FOIA requests.

Page 2 of 2 - Barr, a Marine Corps veteran, said that if someone was honorably discharged from military service, they should be able to join the sheriff’s department without the college requirement currently in place.

“We need more education, not less,” Campbell said, adding that the department gives military veterans preference in hiring by requiring only half the education requirement.

Campbell said the current allocation of personnel in Sangamon County is working. He said 60 percent to 70 percent of the department’s calls come from the unincorporated areas of Springfield and “you direct cars where the calls are.”

He said the department has suffered a 20 percent decline in manpower since 2009.

“We can do a better job patrolling the county,” Barr said, adding that he would break down the current assignments in the county even further to better allocate resources.

Money vs. programs

Barr said if elected, he would try to obtain a grant to restore the sheriff’s DUI patrol.

Campbell said the grant to which Barr referred was no longer available but that he would “reassign a deputy on DUI patrol one way or another.”

Campbell said he’d like to bring back crime prevention and some task forces that have been discontinued because of budget constraints, but he isn’t in favor of a law enforcement sales tax to pay for them.

Barr said he would bring back crime prevention services by refiguring “the three to four percent of the budget that isn’t spoken for.”

Campbell said he’s been able to move money around in the current budget.

In closing, Barr cited his community service with Toys for Tots, the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.

“My life experience makes me the most qualified — community service being involved in organizations,” Barr said.

Campbell said he can show proven results.

“What we’re doing is working,” he said. “My work with the county board has earned their trust and the trust of the stakeholders in Sangamon County.”

The forum was held in the SJ-R auditorium. It was streamed live on SJ-R.com.